Toure digs in his heels

Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that the Barclays Premier League champions will listen to offers for the Ivorian as they look to reshape their squad after such a disappointing season.

But Toure is determined not to be forced out of the door at the end of the campaign. He is said to be content with life at the Etihad Stadium despite the difficulties and is in no rush to leave.

Toure has more than two years left to run on his £220,000-a-week deal and is unlikely to move for anything less. A number of clubs, such as Inter Milan, are interested in the 31-year-old, but given his huge wages there must be doubts over whether they would be able to afford it.

Inter are prepared to offer Toure a five-year deal to compensate for the pay-cut he would be required to take if he moved to Italy — although it is unlikely that he would agree to a such a compromise.

There had been talks about a contract extension for Toure at City — which included the possibility of an ambassadorial role when he hangs up his boots — but the club are now happy for him to go.

City, meanwhile, will resist any attempt by Valencia to pull out of a £24million deal for Alvaro Negredo to fund a move for Radamel Falcao, currently on loan at Manchester United.

Negredo joined Valencia on loan last summer and the agreement included a clause involving a permanent move to the Mestalla. Reports in Spain yesterday suggested that Valencia are having second thoughts about keeping Negredo next season, but City are adamant that the deal will go through.

The 29-year-old striker scored 23 goals in his first season at the Etihad following a £20.6m move from Sevilla, but he has only found the net five times for Valencia. When he scored in Monday’s 3-0 win over Levante, the Spain striker refused to celebrate, fuelling speculation over his future. Financial problems mean Valencia are struggling to hold onto key players such as defender Nicolas Otamendi. But it has not stopped them being linked with a move for Falcao, who is set to leave United at the end of his season-long loan from Monaco.

Falcao’s agent Jorge Mendes is an advisor to Valencia owner Peter Lim and offloading Negredo is seen as one way of affording the Colombian.

City had scouts at Porto, watching their 3-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, with the home team’s Brazilian left back Alex Sandro said to be the focus of interest. – Daily Mail